Unleash live Blog

Unleashing Smart Annotations for Next-Level Image Annotation in ML

Written by Unleash live | Jun 19, 2023 3:29:55 AM

Developing high-quality image-based Machine Learning models typically requires time and effort, as the outcome of the model is dependent on the quantity and quality of labeled data used to train it. Regarding labeling data, two critical factors make the difference in productivity: Speed and ease of use. 

Traditionally, rectangular box annotation was the primary method of annotating images due to its simplicity and speed compared to time-consuming polygons. However, as the requirements for computer vision models have grown, polygons are often needed due to the complex shape, size, and geometry of what enterprise customers need to detect.

Rectangular Box Annotations in Insulator - Power line


To address this challenge, Unleash live has incorporated a powerful automation tool called Smart Annotations powered by SAM into the labeling process. This tool enhances traditional image annotation methods with highly accurate and fast pixel-level segmentation, allowing Unleash Live to stand out as an exceptional machine-learning workflow tool in the market. By leveraging this cutting-edge technology, Unleash Live further empowers users to create more accurate and efficient machine-learning models to detect complex shapes and estimate their sizes and geometries.

Overview of pixel-level segmented power line poles


This technology allows users to transform their models to obtain the mask or polygon of the detected objects with just a simple tweak. This is extremely useful as it opens up a variety of analytics and insights from the customers' data and their needs - leading to exponentially further use cases in how Unleash live helps their customers solve their problems. 

With Smart Annotations, users have additional Smart Select options that make the annotation process faster and more accurate, including:

  • By click: Users click the assets or areas of interest to auto-generate labels

  • By box: Users select an area with a bounding box to select segments to auto-generate labels

  • Everything: All segments and polygons are visually available for selection to auto-generate labels

Users can select multiple relevant segments to create multiple labels of the same class at one time, saving valuable time from repetitive actions. All polygons can be further edited and refined for more accurate labeling.

The accuracy of your AI model is highly correlated with the quality of the data labeled

Unleash live understands that the accuracy of AI models depends highly on the quality of the labeled data. Smart annotations enhance the quality of the labeled data by improving the accuracy of the segmentation and annotation process, thus enhancing the accuracy of the AI model.

While many examples of SAM in the market demonstrate its capabilities with simple images of everyday scenes, the real value lies in its ability to be refined and deployed for enterprise use cases in the real world. Unleash live is focused on solving real-world challenges with real examples, providing our clients with the tools they need to create more accurate and efficient machine-learning models.

Smart Annotations is the perfect solution for anyone looking to increase productivity when labeling datasets for model training or retraining. With its lightning-fast speed, intuitive interface, and advanced features, it is undoubtedly the market's fastest and most intuitive annotation tool.

Smart Annotations for real-world applications

Examples of SAM in the market often demonstrate its capabilities with simple images of everyday scenes. However, the real value is its ability to be refined and deployed for enterprise use cases in the real world. At Unleash live, we are focused on solving real-world challenges with real examples provided below:

1. Windfarm

Computer vision is a revolutionary technology that has entered various industries, including wind farms. With the help of computer vision, the inspection and maintenance of wind turbines have become more efficient and accurate. Wind turbines are often located in remote and difficult-to-reach areas, which makes inspections challenging. Drones equipped with cameras can capture images of the turbines, which can then be analyzed for any damages or defects. This saves time and resources, as inspections can be done quickly and accurately. Furthermore, using Unleash live's Autofly in windfarms has increased the safety of workers, as they no longer have to climb the turbines for inspections and increased the efficiency with automated missions. Overall, using computer vision in wind farms has brought about significant improvements in inspecting and maintaining wind turbines, making them more efficient, accurate, and safe.

An example of Smart Annotation detecting surface damage on a wind turbine blade is below:

 

 

Smart annotation of damage on a wind turbine blade

2. Power line

Power line inspections are crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of our electrical infrastructure. However, traditional methods of inspection can be time-consuming and costly. This is where Unleash live's Smart Annotations revolutionize the process. With highly accurate and fast pixel-level segmentation, this powerful automation tool allows users to create more accurate and efficient machine-learning models to detect even the most complex shapes and estimate their sizes and geometries. From detecting contaminated insulators on power poles to annotating details such as bolts on railway lines or road potholes, the use cases for fast annotations are limitless. Plus, with features like exporting annotations into CSV, JSON or PDF reports and continuous improvement of the A.I. model through relabelling and retraining, Unleash live is undoubtedly the fastest and most intuitive annotation tool in the market.

See an example of Unleash live's Smart Annotations tools in action:

'By Click' is used to select Powerline insulators

By Box is used in Powerline insulators

3. Linear assets (railway/road)

Linear assets like railways and roads are crucial for transportation and infrastructure development. However, inspecting these assets can be time-consuming and costly. That's where Unleash live comes in. At Unleash live, you can easily automate the inspections and organize your assets in Media Drive. Automating the inspection process can save time and resources and improve accuracy. Smart Annotation tools are useful for linear assets like railway tracks or highways.

Annotating details such as railway line bolts or road potholes can be done in seconds.

Bolts detected using the Smart Annotations tool

 

Pothole detected using Smart Annotations tool

 

4. Manufacturing and other industries

In today's fast-paced and highly competitive manufacturing and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industries, ensuring product quality and efficiency is paramount. Manual inspection processes are often time-consuming, prone to human error, and limited in detecting subtle defects or anomalies. However, with Unleash live's Smart Annotations feature, automating inspection processes has emerged as a game-changer for these industries. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the inspection process in Media Drive offers a wide range of benefits, revolutionizing quality control and productivity in manufacturing and FMCG sectorsThe use cases for fast annotations are limitless: from annotating faulty gears in manufacturing equipment to classifications of items in FMCG industries.

Faulty gear detected using Smart Annotation Tool

Classifications of Items for FMCG Industries

Smart Annotation's additional features

Exporting the annotations file into the required format makes the work more efficient. After an asset has been annotated, whether manually or by AI, users can now summarize the annotation results for a folder or set of images. They can then filter or summarize these annotations based on annotation type, faults, and severity of faults before exporting them to a PDF report, CSV file or JSON. The pdf report is usually sent to the maintenance team for repair and maintenance planning and execution. It can be done in the Unleash live platform with simple and easy steps. Learn to export annotations.


Smart annotations of a crack and report

 

Other features include:

  • Color coding based on annotations class, 12 different colors to choose from.

  • Power of switching between “Visible” or “Hidden” 

  • Viewing metadata (severity, hub distance in wind turbine, etc.) alongside label ID

  • Continuous Improvement of the AI model simultaneously by relabelling and retraining

  • Collaboration with various roles in the same organization

Extensive annotation tool features in Unleash live's Media Drive

Smart Annotations Summary

Unleash live provides an incredible 15x improvement in image and video labeling speed!

  • Watch the video in the link on how smart annotations in Unleash live dominate the traditional annotations for a crack on a tower.
  • SAM is trained using datasets of real-world examples that are tedious and time-consuming to label manually, like waste products, X-ray images, etc. Hence, there is an increase in the efficiency of labeling these types of irregular products.

  • Convert your object detection model to an instance segmentation model with only one line code powered by Unleash live technology.

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